Transmitter head set



Dec. 19, 1939. A. E. WOODRUFF ET AL TRANSMITTER HEADSET. Fiied Sept. 3, 1937 a R & mFE H T N Nuc R Wm m moR A 0 WHW BF TTM RR EB. 55 LL 1 AAM 2 B or wearer speaks. Several forms of apparatus.

Patent ed Dec. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES TRANSMITTER HEAD SET Albert E. Woodrufi, Oak Pal- Horlacher, Chicago, Ill.,

and Albert F. ass gnors to Associated Electric laboratories, Inc., Chicago, Ill.,' a corporation of Delaware Application September 3, 1937; Serial no. 162,252

- 1. ire-1'51) 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to transmitter head set supporting apparatus and more particularly to an assembly for supporting a pair of microphonecells in position against the body of a wearer or user.

In the present applicants co-pending application Serial No. 162,253, filed Sept. '3, 1937, there is disclosed and claimed an improved transmitter cell of the type which is responsive to received mechanical vibrations ascontrasted withthe conventional type of cell which responds to received sound waves. As explained in the above-referred to application, cells of this character possess deflnite operating advantages; particularly when used to transmit intelligence or speech from an area wherein the background noise is exceedingly high, such, for example, as from the cockpit of an airplane. In use, a cell of this type is strapped to the throat of the user so that the diaphragm thereof is vibrated inaccordance with muscular vibrations of the throat when the user have heretofore been used for supporting the microphone cells in position, but all such apparatus involves the use of helmets having the microphone cells embodied therein, or other similar structures of cumbersome character.

It is an object of the present invention, there-- fore, to provide an improved assembly for the purpose specified which is of simple, economical and rugged construction and is so compact that it may readily be folded up and placed in'the pocket of the user when not in service.

In general, the object as set forth above is attained in accordance with the present invention by providing an assembly of the character noted wherein apair of transmitter cells are secured in spaced apart relation to a siipporting member constructed of flexible resilient material, such, for example, as soft rubber, and means comprising this member are used for supporting the cells against the throat of a user or ,wearen- In the assembly, the circuit conductors terminating at the two cells are embedded in the member supporting the cells throughout at least a portion of the length thereof. Also, the base portion of each cell is provided with a. depression within which an enlarged,end oi the flexible supporting member is seated, and there is embodied in each cell a. cover plate which is secured to the base member of the associatedcell and is so shaped as tocover the associated. enlarged end of the flexible supporting member. A strap carrying a fastening element is secured to the base of one of the cells and another fastening element is secured to the base of the other of the cells; wherebythe flexible supporting member, the strap andthe various fastening elements comprise means for supportingthe cells against the body of. a user or wearer.

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forthwith particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and m 3, Fig. 5 is a view, partially in section, illustrating 2o .certain details of the assembly shown in Figs. 1

and 2, and Fig. 6 is a view illustrating certain details of one of the elements embodied in the microphone cells shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. i

- Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 tab,

inclusive, there is illustrated one embodiment of the improved assembly as comprising a pair of microphone cells Ill and I I, each of which is constructed and arranged in accordance with the disclosure contained in the above-referred to 00- e pending application, and a member .l2 con structed of flexible resilient material, such as soft rubber, to which the cells l0 and H are secured in spaced apart relation. In brief, each of the cells comprises a base member of insulating ma- 85 terial, a cup-shaped member constructed of cellulose acetate material and having its rim secured to the surface of the associated base member, and astructure positioned between the bottom of the cup-shaped.member and the base member and enclosed therebyfor-retaining therein the 1 granulated carbon pile conventionally embodied in such cells. Thus, in Fig. 5 the cell lfl is shown as,comprising a base member I 0', a cup-shaped member 9 having its rim secured to the adjacently disposed surface of the member l0 and a carbon pile retaining structure, not shown, en-

closed .within the two members 9 and Ill. The

bottom portion 9' of the cup-shaped member 9 is made relatively thin and functions as the vi- ;brating diaphragm to transmit vibrations to the movable electrode embodied in the carbon pile retaining structure referred to above. It will be apparent from thedrawingtnat the construction 66 v the respective diaphragms thereof in engagement with the throat of a wearer, this means also comprising a strap I! having one end secured within the cell II, in the manner described in detail hereinafter, and a fastening element inthe form of an eye ll mounted on the other end thereof for attachment to a cooperating fastening element in the form of a hook I 5 fixedly mounted on the base member ID of the cell Hi. Inserted intermediate the two ends of the strap i3 is a buckle 16 which is provided for the purpose of adjusting the length of the strap to conform to the requirements of a particular user.

As shown more particularly in- Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the flexible member I2 is provided at its ends with enlarged annular portions l1 and i8 which are adapted to seat within annulardepressions formed in the respective base members l and H of the cells it) and II. These enlarged annular portions are clamped within the depressions noted by means of cover plates l9 and 20 secured, respectively/i, to the-base portions 'l0 and II by screws 2| and 22. In this connection, it is pointed hole punched in the annular portion of the flexible member l2. The end of the strap l3 which is secured to the cell ll extends within a slot provided along the edge of the base member II and is held secured to the cell by one of the screws 22 and the clamping force exerted thereon by a projection 8 extending from the cover plate 20 within the slotted portion of .the base member I I, and also by the clamping force exerted thereon by the annular portion l8 of the flexible member i2. In a similar manner, the hook I is mounted on the base'member I! with the shank thereof extending through a slot, out along the edge of the base member III". This hook. is clamped to the base member ID by means comprising a projection formed integrally with the cover plate I 9 and extending within the last-mentioned slot, the last-mentioned projection carried by the cover plate I! corresponding to the projection 8 carried by the cover plate 20.

Each of the two cells Ill and II is provided in its base member with a pair ofcircuit terminals, not shown, and extending to these terminals are circuit conductors embedded in the flexible member l 2. More specifically, a circuit conductor cord 23 is provided which includes a pair of insulated conductors 24 and 25 terminating at the terminals of a plug 26 and having extensions embedded in the flexible member l2 and connected, respectively, to one terminal of each of the cells I0 and II. The two cells noted are connected in series between the outgoing circuit conductors 24' and 25 by means including a third conductor 21, also embedded in the flexible member i2, and connected to one terminal of each of the two cells It] and II. By connecting the cells in series in this manner, a greater amplitude of output is obtained with a given vibrational input-to the cells. In orderto relieve the embedded conduc-v tors 24 and 25 from strain and to enhance the durability of the assembly, a stay cord 28 is provided which includes a knotted end 29 embedded in the flexible member l2. This stay co'rd may 5 be molded in or otherwise fixedly secured within the insulation of the cord 23.

Due to the flexible and resilient characteristics of the member l2, the assembly as described above may be readily inserted in the pocket of the user and, when removed therefrom, immediately assumes a position for 'the convenient attachment of the same around the neck of the user. More particularly, the resilient character of the member l2 permits the microphone assembly to be deformed to a convenient configuration for carrying or transport when not in use and insures that the assembly will assume a configuration facilitating the fastening thereof to the wearer's body when released from forces causing its deformation. It will be understood that the strap i3 is adapted to pass around the neck of the wearer and that the eye l4 cooperates with the hook l5, thereby securely to support the two cells Ill and II with the diaphragms thereof pressing against opposite sides of the throat of the wearer. When this is done, the member l2 will assume a curved contour and will rest. against the front central portion of the users throat.

While there has been described what is at 30 present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understoodthat various modifications may be made therein, and it is contemplated to cover in the appended claims all'such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. a L

We claim: I

l. A microphone supporting assembly comprising,.in combination, a microphone cell including a base having a depression and a restricted connecting opening provided therein, a member constructed of flexible resilient material and including an enlarged end and a connecting link, the enlarged end of said member being arranged in the depression provided in the base of said cell and the adjacent portion of the connecting link of said member being arranged in the restricted connecting opening provided .in the base of said cell, a cover plate adapted to seat on the base of said cell and to cover the enlarged end of said member, means for securing said plate to the base of said cell, thereby to anchor the enlarged end of said member securely in place in the depression provided in the base of said cell, and means including said member for supporting said cellagainst the body of a wearer.

-2. A microphone supporting assembly compris ing, in combination, a pair of microphone cells each including a base having a depression and a restricted connecting opening provided therein, a member constructed of flexible resilient material and including enlarged ends and an intermediate connecting link, the enlarged ends of said member being respectively arranged in the depressions provided in the bases of said cells and the adjacent portions of the connecting link of said member being respectively arranged in the restricted connecting openings provided in the 1 bases of said cells, a cover plate for each of of said member securely in place in the depressions respectively provided in the bases of said 1 3. A microphone supporting assembly comprising, in combination,

a pair of microphone cells each including a base having a depression and a restricted connecting opening provided therein, a member constructed of flexible resilient material and including enlarged ends and an intermediate connecting link, the enlarged ends of said member being respectively arranged in the depressions provided in the bases of said cells and the adjacent" portions of the connecting link of said member being respectively arranged in the restricted connecting openings provided in the bases of said cells, a cover plate for each of said cells so shaped as to cover the associated enlarged end of said member, means for securing said plates to the respective associated bases of said cells, thereby to anchor the enlarged ends of said member securely in place in the depressions respectively provided in the bases of said cells, a strap including a fastening element mounted on one end thereof and having the other end secured to the base of one of said cells,'

apsecond fastening element secured to the base of the other of said cells and adapted to cooperate with said first-mentioned fastening element,

I and means including said member,-said strap and said fastening elements for supporting said cells against the body of a wearer.

4. A microphone supporting assembly oompris= ing, in combination, a pair of microphone cells the other endsecured to each including a base having a depression and a restricted connecting openingprovidedtherein, a member constructed of flexible resilient material'and including enlarged ends and an inter= mediate connecting link, the enlarged ends of said member being respectively arranged in the depressions provided in the bases of said cells and the adjacent portions of the connecting link of said member being respectively arranged in the restricted connecting openings provided in the bases of said cells, a cover plate for each of said cells so shaped as to cover the associated enlarged end of said member, means for securing said plates to the respective associated bases of said cells, thereby to anchor the enlarged ends of said member securely in place in the depressions respectively provided in the bases of said cells, circuit terminals mounted on the base of each 'of said cells, circuit conductors connected to said terminals, said conductors being embedded in said'rnember throughout at least a portion of the length thereof, a strap including a fastening element mounted on one end thereof and having the base of one of said cells, a second fastening element secured to the base of the other of said cells, and adapted to cooperate with said first-mentioned fastening element, and means including said member, said strap and said fastening elements for supporting said cells against the body of a wearer. I

, ALBERT E. WOODRUFF. ALBERT F. HORLACMR'. 

